The core function of forensic handwriting examination is to determine if handwriting can be attributed to a specific writer.
The verification is based on a systematic evaluation of the present handwriting characteristics. The emphasis is on the form and not on the content of what is written. The results of this comparative analysis are tested against pre-established hypotheses. We then assess how likely the findings are under each of these hypotheses and report them to the client.
Additionally, we may sometimes comment on the motor condition of the writer. However, this statement will only relate to the observed writing movement in the form of the handwriting. For example, the motor condition of the writer may include tremors (for instance, due to Parkinson’s disease, substance abuse, or emotional factors). The effects of the tremor may be visible in the handwriting. In such cases, we will mention the presence of tremor but not its cause.
In conclusion, making statements about the mental or physical condition or personality traits of the writer is not within the expertise of forensic handwriting analysis.